Continuing on with my series on the different routes one can take to become an expat, this month I was privileged to get some insight from expat Linda Eboukle. She drops some jewels and is a fine example of what you can achieve if you put fear aside. I hope you enjoy reading.

Hi Linda. Can you briefly tell us a bit about yourself and describe your background, education and work experience? How did you first end up living and working overseas?

I was born in the Ivory Coast and moved to the US at a very young age. I grew up in Massachusetts, went to college on Long Island N,Y and stuck around the New York City area until my move to Singapore 2 years ago. I have a bachelors in Accounting and a masters in Taxation. I began my career in public accounting then moved into the banking section. I currently work in the private banking industry as a compliance officer.  

Living and working abroad had always been a goal of mine, it was just a matter of when and where.  In the summer of 2016 I went on a 3 month work assignment in India, and as part of my stay I took a few trips around southeast Asia, with Singapore being one of the places I visited.  I immediately fell in love with Singapore and decided that this would be the place to live and work.

Six months later I had found a job and was relocating to Singapore. I think maybe the stars were aligned and I was extremely lucky and blessed. It was actually the only job I had applied for in Singapore. I went right on the company’s website and found the exact role that I was looking for and submitted my resume online and by end of December 2016 I was on my way to live and work in Singapore.  

Can you talk more about your 3 months work assignment? Is that an opportunity others should inquire about with their employers or do you know of finance companies that offer the opportunity? How did you find out about it?

Prior to coming to Singapore I was at one of the big 4 accounting firms.  The particular line of service in which I worked had a sizeable back office team in Hyderabad and Delhi. As such they had a rotation program where senior associates and above can go to India to provide and build  relationships with the team on the ground in India given that we worked with them a lot remotely. The program ranged from 2 weeks up to 12 weeks.

Apparently they were struggling to find people to go. It seems folks in the US just weren’t too keen on going to India or didn’t want to be away for so long.

As I previously mentioned I was already at a point in my life/career where I wanted to experience living and working abroad, so I jumped at the opportunity and signed up for the longest amount of time away.

Funny thing is, the incentives to get people to go were actually very good. They put you up in a  5-star hotel for the duration of the assignment. You get a daily allowance for food. You get a driver to pick you up to and from work and back to the hotel, and depending on how long the rotation was, you get a free flight back home or anywhere else so long as the price doesn’t exceed the price to go home. Lastly, after completing the rotation you get a bonus for going.

For me I was flabbergasted as to why people weren’t tripping over themselves to go, but in retrospect I think people are just nervous to travel that far.  For me personally, I was extremely nervous and apprehensive about going. I didn’t know what to expect, whether I would love it or hate it or how I would manage to make it through 3 long months.  But the experience far exceeded my expectations in every aspect. I got a chance to interact with both the local team in Hyderabad and Delhi. I also got a chance to interact with others from various states in the US who were also part of the rotations.

It was through rotation that I got a chance to travel in south East Asia for the first time. I was exposed to so many new amazing cultures, lifestyles and ways of thinking and seeing the world.  That is not to say everything was 100% perfect all the time, but the positives out-weighed the negatives. It was truly an amazing experience that I still look fondly upon.

Most international companies have a rotation program or short term assignments abroad, if anyone is interested I would say to find out what your company has to offer, network, also be excellent and stand out doing what it is that you do to increase your profile within your respective firm.  And when you find out where those opportunities are, don’t be afraid to put your hand up.

Even if you are afraid, do it scared because what you will find out is that there is nothing to be apprehensive about.

How did you go about your job search for jobs in Singapore? Did you just start with a simple Google search for example?

I knew exactly what I was looking for and which companies I wanted to target, so I just went on those companies’ websites.  As previously mentioned this one company, which is the one that brought me to Singapore, had a role that fit exactly what I was looking for.  So call it luck or fate that the job posting was posted at exactly at the time I was looking to move, but that is essentially how I got the role and moved out here.  I did apply to other places, and the process was essentially the same, I went on the career page of those companies and looked for roles which I felt I was qualified for.

But I would also add that the particular area that I am in is a very specialized area. As such the talent pool for those skill sets may be limited, thus the reason for successfully landing the role.

What has been the best part of living overseas?

One of the best parts of living overseas for me is the opportunity to meet and interact with different types of people from all over the world.  I have met and befriended people that I would never have interacted with if I was still in my comfort zone back home.
Another aspect that I like about living abroad is the travel opportunities, once you move away from home, especially somewhere as far as Asia you realize that the world is a much smaller place, and suddenly the fear and hesitation about traveling disappears.  

What has been the most disappointing  or difficult aspect of living overseas?

The most difficult part of living abroad for me has been constantly being reminded that I am a foreigner. I will sometimes get the inquisitive stares… mainly from the older local folks.

I wear my hair natural and for some reason it has been a source of amazement and wonderment for many people around here.  I have sometimes encountered people wanting to take pictures of me. This happens quite frequently when I travel outside of Singapore. It all is generally harmless and people are genuinely intrigued, but for me, after a while it gets tiring. I would like to be able to go grocery shopping without someone wanting to touch my hair. 

Has living overseas allowed you to save more money or live a lifestyle different than what you experienced living in the US? 

Living abroad, particularly in Singapore, not only allowed me to save more money but it has allowed me to live a very different lifestyle than I probably would be able to live in NYC.

I would say some of the main benefits of living in Singapore are 1) the low tax rates, 2) how those taxes are calculated and paid and 3) also the fact that salaries are paid on a gross amount.   Unlike the US where they deduct all of your taxes before you even see your paycheck, in Singapore you get paid the full amount upfront with no taxes taken out. This is particularly great because you get full use of the money you earn upfront, so from that perspective you are able to do more with your money.  Then after year end the government in many cases will calculate the amount you owe in taxes then you can get on a payment plan to allow you to pay the taxes owed over the course of up to 12 months.

In terms of lifestyle, I would say my quality of life in Singapore is definitely higher than when I was in NY. For one, the tax and salary payment system in Singapore allows you to put your money to greater use.  

Additionally, being an “expat” can give you automatic access to many different things and many different people that you would not have access to otherwise, because you are within a smaller community of foreigners.   It is almost as if your status gets a bit of a “boost” and you find yourself at events and interacting with people from many different circles.

What advice would you give to someone with a similar background looking to do what you have done?  

Just do it, it is not as scary as it seems. But more importantly network, network, and network. Do not be afraid to reach out to people who are where you would like to be.  What I have found is that people abroad tend to be more open and willing to share their story and tips on how they got where they are.

I also think that many times we disqualify ourselves from doing the things we want to do out of fear. We don’t even present ourselves and our talents to the table. Take the chance, search for that job, send in that resume and let them make the decision as to whether they want you or not.  

Has living overseas impacted your travel? If so, how? 

Living overseas has allowed me to travel a great deal, during my first year in Singapore I think I was traveling to a new country every other month.

The location of Singapore makes it very easy and convenient to travel, you can literally be in many different countries with a 1 – 2-hour flight so it is easy to do long weekend getaways.

Also traveling in this part of the world is very cheap if you compare the costs in US dollars.  

Thanks again to Linda for sharing her experience! 

The post Expat Pathways: The Finance World with Linda Eboukle appeared first on Maya the Explorer - Expat Blog | Travel & Lifestyle.

The post Expat Pathways: The U.S. State Department with Eleesha Lewis appeared first on Maya the Explorer - Expat Blog | Travel & Lifestyle.

Teaching is a great way to become an expat and move abroad, but it’s not the only way. Meet Toddré. When life handed her a pink slip, she booked a flight…to Zanzibar. Check out her unconventional story of becoming an expat.

I loved my job.  I worked as an online stylist for an e-commerce start-up based in Santa Monica, California.  I loved researching the attire for themed events and helping my clients look and feel their best on the most important days of their lives.  I felt that for the first time in a long time, I was going places.

My life changed when I was called into the main conference room and told that I was being laid off.  I mean, I knew that it was the slow season. I was listening during the meeting when we were told that our department would be shrinking.  I knew that we had recently outsourced a great deal of our workload to the Philippines . . . but I knew that wasn’t nobody gon’ let me go!  

I was incredulous.  I vacillated between wanting revenge and phoning lawyers to laughing out loud at the absurdity of it all.  I mean, who would get rid of a stellar employee like me?!!!

That following Monday, I went through all the motions of filing for unemployment, food stamps, state subsidized health care and even general aid.  Then I hopped on Linkedin and started looking for other online styling jobs. But none of it felt right. In my soul. In my gut. I didn’t want to do it.  The thought of sifting through online job posts, sending out my resume, prepping and getting dressed for interviews, then getting the job and possibly having to commute was NOT the business.  

My roommate and I shared a beautiful 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment in Ladera Heights,  Los Angeles (The Black Beverly Hills according to Frank Ocean’s Sweet Life). We had a gorgeous balcony overlooking our Disney like pool, tropical landscaping, underground parking, security guards and most of the amenities 2 single women would want.  My roomie and I were like sisters and we lived in harmony. Her life had recently taken a turn: she was newly in love and planning to cohabitate with her man and his daughter.  Here’s the kicker, she was terminated just one week before I was laid off.  We discovered that her unemployment wasn’t going to come through and now she was left wondering how she was going to make the rent.  

We went back and forth, weighing up all the options.  About a week later, I texted my roomie and told her I was moving to Zanzibar.  Why Zanzibar? Well, I had gone the previous year for my birthday and had a damn good time.  The weather-gorge, the food-fresher than I’ve ever had and well seasoned, the architecture-mystifying, the sea-clear blue with whole sea shells and multi colored starfish + all the male attention had me shook.  I planned to return the following year in 2017 for my birthday but my money was funny and I hate travelling broke.

My roomie and I gave our 30 day notice and I sold nearly everything I owned on OfferUp.  The buyers were curious about why I was selling such nice things, and when I told them my plans to move to Africa, they wished me well.  I boxed up a couple of collector’s items that I couldn’t part with along with most of my shoes, clothing and accessories; a total of 8 large Home Depot boxes and gave them to my Dad for storage with plans to send for them once settled.

My father couldn’t understand why I wanted to leave.  I left home at 17 to attend Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana for 4 years.  The goal was to get as far away from home as possible. I went straight from undergrad to grad school and studied law for 3 years in Denver, Colorado. In seven years I had been home once.  During my studies, I travelled and worked in Africa in preparation for a career in International Development. Following my academic career I moved to Washington DC; got married, bought properties, opened a women’s shoe boutique and divorced within a time span of 13 years.  The last few years in DC, my father was urging me to come home. Telling me that there were people like me with weird hair in San Francisco and that I could get in where I fit in. Following my divorce I did move home, but home was far from idyllic.

As my father wrestled with fear, skepticism and judgement for his oldest child, I reminded him that the reason why it was so easy for me to pick up and leave was because home was never comfortable for me.  Home was never a warm and fuzzy place. This made him cry, but it was my truth. The wheels were in motion, my ticket was bought and my personal items up for sale.

When my plane took off from LAX I was elated.  When it landed in Zanzibar, I thought, “What have I just done?!!”  I stepped through my fear. My father taught me that the only thing to fear is fear itself.  I quieted the sense of lack and limitation inside of me with the realization that I chose this life, had wanted this life for a long time and I was more than ready for my new journey.    

I have fallen in love with the beautiful, warm Indian Ocean.  Whenever I get wrapped up in my head about the future, I look to the ocean as a reminder to stay present and appreciate life’s simple blessings.  Although overbearing at times, this tropical heat and humidity has done wonders for my skin and hair. I love the sense of community here; something that I was missing in L.A.  Everyone seems responsible for each other and willingly helps one another. It’s a relief to see that the elders are protected and respected. When greeting an elder, one must say, “Shikamoo” (I am beneath your feet).  He or she responds with, “Marahaba” (God is love).  So that I can integrate properly and out of respect for the culture, I have been learning the official language, kiSwahili.  

In Zanzibar mothers can let their children play outside unsupervised without a care.  It warms my heart and puts a smile on my face to see kids actually PLAY outside and reminds me of how we used to be.  A lot of the clothes sold here are second hand and/or very low quality. As a result, most of the garments I’ve purchased are bespoke.  Fortunately, you can get a bespoke garment made in 1 week for $32/TZS 73,000 or less; including fabric!

Life isn’t all crystal clear warm water and mojitos.  I’ve experienced people being rather small minded and judgemental because they haven’t been exposed to life outside their little villages; ignorant to the fact that there’s more than one way to be.  I was initially frustrated and combative when I encountered gender discrimination, racism and colorism from Zanzibaris and expats alike.  Now I simply breathe and realize that there is no utopian community. The amount of plastic bottles, rubber flip flops and discarded clothing on our beaches (depending on the tide) and roads is baffling.  I am in the process of forming a self-sustaining recycling coalition to get a handle on this issue. There are no consumer protection laws that I’m aware of. The extremely low quality products sold to Africa is ridiculous.  Most of the body soap and lotions on the market contain bleaching agents. I scrutinize the ingredients of each bottle before I make a purchase. It’s much easier to buy a relaxer than it is to find products that enhance curly hair.  Natural personal care products are extremely limited. Many of the appliances/consumer goods sold on the market are defective.

BUGS. BUGS. BUGS.  My friends keep telling me, “Toddré, this is Africa, we have insects”.  Everyday, I battle ants in my kitchen. This morning I woke up to a scorpion in my living room!  Sometimes I see things crawling in my home and have no idea what it is or how it got in. And the mosquitos . . . don’t even get me started on the mosquitos!!!  There are frequent power outages. As I type this, there is zero electricity in the village. Frequent mobile carrier network issues are a fact of life. I relocated here with very clear intentions to attract My Husband.  It has been a challenge to meet someone who is not an opportunist with whom I’m equally yoked AND is not married. I recently met a brutha in Kenya with whom I am totally smitten . . . only time will tell.

All in all, I’ve realized that I’m only in control of about 2% of my life.  I set my intentions. I pray and I do my best to keep my vibrations high. The rest I’ve surrendered to the Universe.  I’m creating my life as I see it. And I see freedom, light, laughter, travel, beauty, lifelong learning and above all LOVE.

The post No Job, No problem: Expat Guest Post With Toddré Monier appeared first on Maya the Explorer - Expat Blog | Travel & Lifestyle.

Many people hear my story and think it’s great but somehow not feasible for themselves. The thing I hear over and over again is “But how can I move abroad with kids?” So I’d like for you to hear it from someone who’s done it. John David Lewis is a high school principal. He is married with two kids and like many, toyed with the idea of moving abroad for years. He had doubts of course, but this isn’t about his doubts. This is about how he overcame his fears and led his family on the ultimate journey of moving abroad.

The Hardest Part is Getting Out

In 2002, I was a year out of undergrad  living in Orlando with no job, and  was considering teaching abroad in South Korea where I was born. I needed something to do and why not see the world? I got an interview and all I needed was to take the Praxis (Alternative Teaching Certification) Exam, but this was a no-go because I was a new grad, with no job, and a lot of pride and ego. You see how that all makes sense? I was encouraged to teach because the youth needed more positive men in the school building. Summer vacations and insurance sounded like my best move. I started out as a teaching assistant and fell head over heels in it. I never realized how much the youth were moving without any positive influence or guidance.

I got my first opportunity (October 2002) to teach at an alternative school about a month after I started as an assistant. I qualified for a temporary (five years) certification due to my undergraduate degree. In Fall 2003, I entered a two-year program that allowed me to get a Masters in Education Leadership while completing my teacher’s certification. I never anticipated leaving the classroom, but I decided to further my education so if an opportunity came, I’d be ready.

Fast forward five years (2010) to a new home in Atlanta, a marriage, and two kids. On my Facebook timeline, I saw someone I worked with teaching in China. We started chatting and I remember saying that I wished I’d done that, but was convinced there was no way I could do it now because I had a family, a mortgage, and [insert additional excuses here]…

In November of 2014, my wife and I considered moving to another city for a change of scenery. After much deliberation, it came down to Dallas. After more research, we realized the money was great, but we would be too far to see family regularly, so that was nixed. It’s funny how we ended up on the other side of the world though, which started with a conversation with my 5 year old. A couple of months later, I asked him where he’d like to move and he said, without hesitating, China. When I asked why, he said, “We don’t know what they do on that side of the world.” I had not thought about moving abroad for years and thought it was too difficult to make it happen with a family. Regardless, I decided to do some research and noticed the benefits of living abroad as an administrator in education. Money (no taxes for gross incomes of 101k or less), less workload, opportunities to travel to other countries for cheap, exposing my family to the world and not living in a box – I’m in.

Family vacations to Sri Lanka. What’s not to love about moving abroad as a family?

We discussed it and agreed that I should apply and we’d weigh our options if I got the opportunity. I went online and typed in “assistant principals abroad” leading to sites like Teach Away and Footprints with a number of positions. After review, we decided I’d apply to Argentina, China, and the United Arab Emirates. Phone interviews and emails with China and Argentina didn’t pan out and I got discouraged. But apparently, third time is a charm because I had interest from the UAE! They wanted me to fly to New York for a Skype interview. At this point, I’m thinking am I really about to pay $1000 dollar flight plus hotel and lose a day of pay at work just to get the same result? Well, I got a flight, pumped myself up, answered the questions to the best of my ability and planned to hear something in a week or two.

Two weeks after my interview, I received an email that said I was selected. I didn’t think about how my wife didn’t say anything or move, because I was so ecstatic. I was going to give my family an opportunity that most of us are too scared to pursue because of the what-ifs. I get it, but I figured if this didn’t work we could always come back. Weeks go by with friends saying congratulations when one friend of mine asked, “How does your wife feel?” He then asked, “What did she say?” Then, I thought about that moment I mentioned earlier. She didn’t say anything or move. I thought since we talked about it and I got the job, it was in stone. He encouraged me to talk to her because it would suck to get over there, she hate it and we have to come all the way back because she and I were not on the same page. It made sense. The conversation was better than I imagined. She just needed more time to process this change. Getting over the fear, pursuing the opportunity, and getting everyone on board was the hardest part and now the clock was on.

I was no stranger to moving and my wife, Kanika, loves throwing things away, so it was easy to downsize. We kept our cars and allowed our brother to move into our home, leaving ourselves a bit of a safety net to return. Excited and cautious, we got a mix of those emotions from our family and friends. Mostly, people thought it was an awesome experience and the kids would learn so much. Older or more traditional people were more apprehensive. We’re too far away. What if something happened? My father-in-law said his generation got a job, started a family, and continued until retirement. This generation just moves around the world and it felt unstable. It’s the unknown that sparks that fear and the falsehoods we learn that feed that fear. I have always been curious and only satisfied when I experience things myself, so other people’s opinions and experiences didn’t dissuade me.

I will say one argument I got from a lot of people was that I was abandoning the youth. I gave over a decade of my career to the youth of my country, my community, and my culture. I spent hours at work during the day and at night. I am proud of what I have done, but I have two children of my own that I want to have a greater impact on. Truthfully, I had three children that I wanted to have a greater impact on. My nephew, who is the same age as my daughter, needed a change of scenery, a smaller class environment, more exposure, and closer supervision, so we made the decision to take him too. So along with our preparations for the move, he needed a passport, we needed to become legal guardians, and notarize documentation from his mother to travel with him internationally. Our to-do list grew a little longer.

Family vacation to Egypt.

“I have always been curious and am only satisfied when I experience things myself, so other people’s opinions and experiences didn’t dissuade me.”

Learning and Unlearning Some Things

I arrived in Abu Dhabi in September 2015. My family stayed behind so that I could get familiar with the place. This country was nothing that I had imagined. Of course, there was sand and it was hot, but it was a regular big city just like in the States, except cleaner. The propaganda that we are taught from television was nothing like this. The American concept of the Middle East is limited to Desert Storm and the Taliban. Did you know Arabs are people who speak the language and from a country that speaks the language? Being Arab does not automatically make you Muslim. I have met several Arabs that are Christians. I had a lot to learn and unlearn.

Work started the following day with orientation and then they put us right into the schools. I had no idea what to expect. I found that my responsibilities were very focused on one task: improving academic performance. On top of that, they believe family comes first so when you clock out, that is family time. In the U.S., I wore several hats, but my workload decreased significantly because I could focus solely on academic performance and effective classroom strategies. It was refreshing.

My colleagues were very friendly and welcomed me as if I were one of them. That put me on the fast track to learning the culture firsthand. They like to hold hands and defy all American Man Laws. Initially, I was so uncomfortable. It was like my friends were right there in the same room watching and laughing because masculinity in America leaves no room for hugging and holding hands. I wanted to be open-minded, so I found myself holding hands with men during conversations. After time passed, I realized that for me to adapt, I would have to accept some things that were out of the norm for me. Nobody here worries about that and why should I? I do not have to do it often, but I don’t think much of it when it happens.

I also had to learn about eating food here. They use their hands and rarely use utensils. This happens at people’s homes, gatherings at school and barbecues. This was tough to handle because Americans obsess about germs. Here, they will tear pieces of bread and hand it to you, give you dates out of their pockets and expect you to eat and be merry. Some people have yet to accept that, but I have come around to accepting this part of the culture too. I learned quickly that the people were really nice and made my transition even smoother. After about a week, I met up with some expats from all over the U.S. and began to build relationships to get acclimated to this new life. After I went out, I recognized that the expat population makes it feel like you are not that far from home at all.

John, his wife Kanika and their two kids in Zanzibar.

Can We Really Do This?

November had finally arrived and after six weeks, I was finally being reunited with my family. I was so excited about taking them around to see and experience things that I’d seen or done. Our first stop was home. Our flat is about 2,500 square feet, with floor to ceiling windows throughout, three huge bedrooms and a maid’s quarter in a high rise on the beach. Everyone was so excited about getting new things with the kids planning out their bedrooms and my wife planning out every other square inch. So far, I had no furniture other than a few couches and an air mattress, so the dollar signs in Kanika’s eyes put fear in my heart. Moving on, our last stop for the day was the beach. I just watched them laugh and play as I just thanked the man above for the courage to take this opportunity.

The following week, I went to work and came home around 4pm two days in a row. My son asked me what I was doing home. When I told him this is the time I got off now, he just hugged me and said, “We get to be together as a family all the time!” (Yes, my kids talk like that.) What’s crazy is that in the US I worked so much trying to make a few extra dollars to provide, that I never realized how much I wasn’t home. My work schedule and my wife’s work schedule meant that our kids were missing out on quality time. We decided since we were moving for my job and she didn’t have the time to secure one, she’d homeschool the kids for at least a year to sharpen their skills before entering the school setting. We noticed there were skills all three children were lacking in and hoped the small environment and ability to focus on their needs would be the best decision. After two years, my wife is itching to start working again and since my job does not provide tuition, we are carefully looking through schools to get the right balance between quality and tuition.

The question was can we really do this and the biggest decision after moving here was whether to stay. We compared the job market and pay, feasibility of travel, in and out of school experiences for the kids, and safety. We had decided only after a few months that we did not want to come back to America to live any time soon. It is peaceful and safe here, we travel often on breaks without saving up for it, and we have the money and time to put the kids in various activities, which wasn’t an option before. Marriage-wise, my wife and I have more conversations about us than bills and schedules, and we’ve rediscovered the joys of dating. When we made our trip home after our first year, my welcome home gift was a car break-in with a shattered window. This, along with the news reporting a new Black man being killed every day, put my wife on edge. We love our family and friends. Being away from them is the only con we could come up with, but we were certain we were making the right decision to leave. Last summer, we sold our house and cars and put the last of our things in storage. Our nephew stayed with his mother and the LewiSquad became a four-person team boarding a plane home. We traded the “American Dream” for our own and I wouldn’t trade this journey for any other.

Taste of Abu Dhabi.

“We had decided only after a few months that we did not want to come back to America to live any time soon. It is peaceful and safe here, we travel often on breaks without saving up for it, and we have the money and time to put the kids in various activities, which wasn’t an option before. Marriage-wise, my wife and I have more conversations about us than bills and schedules, and we’ve rediscovered the joys of dating.”

Feel free to post any questions you have for John in the comments section below!

The post Guest Post: Moving Abroad With Kids appeared first on Maya the Explorer - Expat Blog | Travel & Lifestyle.

Property Managers: The Luck of the Draw

You can do a ton of research to find a good property manager, but unfortunately you really won’t know what you’ve found until you actually work with that person. I own two properties in two different states. One property is managed by a woman who has been a Godsend. She has made living overseas and owning property while away manageable. The other property is being sold because I can’t find a good property manager to save my life. I’ve gone through a few, all promising the world, and in the end I was screwed over big time. Property managers are your eyes and ears while you’re away so it’s important to have someone that you completely trust. That person must be honest and have your best interests at heart. They must also be an excellent judge of character in order to find you a decent tenant. The property manager should also be strong so that in the event the tenant is not working out, they know how to get them out without them damaging your property or skipping out on the rent. I found out the hard way, despite many promises and reassurances, that some property managers have no clue what the present condition of your property is. If I had to do it again, I’d only be comfortable having my property managed by or within a short distance from a family member. I also found that having property in a small town is easier than a big city. It might not command the same rent, but for me, it has been way less of a headache.

Not All Mortgage Companies Are Easy To Work With

You have zero control over who owns your home loan. While you may start out with a company that you have faith in or have had a good experience with, without notice it can be sold. My Bank of America home loan was sold to Green Tree. I can honestly say it’s been the worst experience I‘ve ever had dealing with a bank while overseas. It would take forever to get someone on the phone and when they would attend to me they didn’t seem to want to actually help or know what they were doing. I also learned that “www” doesn’t necessarily mean World Wide Web. Imagine trying to login in to your account via the internet only to be blocked because you’re out of the country. I had to invest in a proxy server just to be able to check my loan balance and recent payments.

This is the newly remodelled kitchen in my condo. The kitchen needed to be completely redone after being vandalized.

Be Prepared for Some Late Nights

Making calls back home requires dedication. For me, being 13-12 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the United States is a headache when you actually have to talk to someone during business hours. I frequently have to stay up until 9 or 10pm just to start making phone calls. If I’m calling someone on the west coast of the United States that becomes 12-1am. And that’s just to start. Imagine being on hold for an hour at that time of night or worse, being disconnected after being on hold for a long amount of time. It’s torture. And even when everything is going well there are still businesses you will need to call from time to time; mortgage companies, your bank, tax offices, property managers, homeowners associations, insurance companies, etc.

Beware of the HOA

A homeowners association can be great if it functions well and you have a voice. But you lose that voice when you cannot attend meetings or your vote is lost in the mail. I’ve seen my HOA dues more than double since I’ve been living overseas and I can’t do a thing about it. Well I’ve tried, and of course it required some long nights of being on hold and trying to get a live person to answer my questions.

So Why Do It?

With all of that being said, there are still benefits of owning property while you are away. If it’s not rented long term you can use it as a place to stay during stateside vacations. If it is rented then it is generating income for you or the tenants are helping to pay your mortgage. It also does help offset your tax liability. Even though many expats don’t pay tax, once your income hits a certain threshold you are responsible for paying taxes. Having a mortgage and interest fees helps with that. Homeownership is also still a great source of retirement income. If you can protect your investment from afar and the property retains or increases in value then it’s definitely worth it.

Are you an expat with a U.S. based home or rental property? Comment below and let me know how it’s worked out for you.

The post Owning U.S. Based Property While Living as an Expat appeared first on Maya the Explorer - Expat Blog | Travel & Lifestyle.

Full-Time Versus Part-Time

In Manila and in Singapore, I had a part-time helper. The person had a set of keys and came in a few hours per week to cook and clean. It was great. I looked forward to coming home and having an immaculate apartment with a fridge stocked full of food. I rarely saw my helper so I didn’t have to sacrifice my privacy and it was very inexpensive, so it didn’t put a dent in my wallet. But when my boyfriend and I decided to move into a ridiculously large house, we knew we were going to need help taking care of it. But there is a big difference between hiring part-time help and having someone full-time. In Singapore, only Singaporean citizens or permanent residents can work as part time maids, and the price is usually somewhere around $20 per hour. Not exactly cheap. To have a full time helper you must hire someone living in Singapore for that sole purpose, also known as a foreign domestic worker, or helper. That person must live in your home. You have to provide them with a room and pay for all meals, medical care and a return trip per contract to their home of record. You also have to pay a $265 monthly levy to the Singapore government and purchase a bond to cover the fees should your helper run away. Yes, you read that correctly. There is a $5,000 fee if your helper should skip the country. Sounds weird, right? Why would someone want to leave in such a hurry? Well it has to do with being treated poorly, which I’ll get to later. The bond also covers any catastrophic health care issues. For example, if your helper were to be diagnosed with cancer, it’s your responsibility to cover her health care costs. Even with all of these added responsibilities, it’s still quite a deal compared to some other countries.

The Hiring Process

Hiring a maid through an agency feels like what I would imagine going to a brothel might feel like. The women are lined up outside the agency and all happily greet you simultaneously as you walk in. You go in and tell the person in charge what you’re looking for and she brings you all candidates that fit those requirements for you to interview. When the interviews are done you hire someone, and have to walk back through the line of disappointed women on your way out. It’s really the worst part of the whole process, unless of course you have to fire someone. There’s also lots of paperwork you have to fill out, a course you have to take on how to actually be a good employer, and health screenings for your new helper that have to be done beforehand.

One of the many hiring agencies located in Singapore. You can find them in almost any mall.

You Become a Boss…Literally (The Firing Process)

Not all hiring decisions turn out to be good ones. If you decide that it’s not a good fit you have to fire that person, hire someone new, and help the person you just fired find a new job-all while having the person that you just fired living with you. Before your new helper can start your old helper has to secure a job and you must give them 30 days to do so. If they aren’t able to find a suitable job during that time frame, you have to pay to send them home to their country of record. I can tell you from experience that 30 days is an eternity when you are living with someone who you just fired. Not sure things get more awkward than that.

The other aspect to being someone’s boss, someone who lives with you at that, is that you have to outline their job responsibilities, manage a pay schedule, evaluate their work, set a curfew, and go over house rules. It seems ridiculous to discuss a curfew with a grown woman, but again, should your helper not come home, that’s your responsibility. Even if your helper were to become pregnant, it would be your responsibility to send her back to her home country. Some employers abuse the system and exploit the women. The previous family my helper worked for took her passport so that she couldn’t leave, forced her to work on her day off, refused to pay her in cash and instead sent her pay to her family for her. In doing so they were keeping her broke and totally dependent on them, and generally gave her zero freedom. I’ve also heard horror stories of helpers not being fed properly or overworked, as well as being asked to do something dangerous, like cleaning the outside of windows on higher floors. Some of the hiring agencies even engage in some pimp like behavior. My boyfriend and I had to step in once when we were walking by an agency where the manager was screaming at one of her girls and berating her for not accepting a job. It’s really disturbing to hear stories like these, but sadly it does happen.

These ladies were so excited when I asked them if I could take their picture. They were having an early Christmas celebration on their day off.

Another community of helpers gathering to enjoy their day off together in the Botanic Garden.

How Fortunate Are We?

More than anything, having a full-time helper makes you aware of how fortunate you are. Not only do you have someone to cook, clean, iron, grocery shop and even do the gardening for you, but you learn a lot about that person as they become a part of your family. And usually you also learn how good you’ve got it. For example, my helper is from the Philippines and has been working abroad for several years to provide for her family back home. While she’s been here caring for other people’s kids, her children are back in the Philippines with her mother. She has given up seeing them grow up and getting to be a larger part of their life so she can give them a better future. While many of us help out at home and continue to give financial support, it pales in comparison to the sacrifice these overseas domestic workers make. Most work 6 days a week, enjoy one day of freedom each week and send all of the money they make home each month. Some of them are highly educated, but the salary they make as a maid here in Singapore beats what they would make as a professional in their home country. When we sifted through applications it was heart breaking to see the skills and education some of the ladies had that they weren’t able to utilize.

Having live-in help definitely takes away some of your privacy, but for some helpers privacy is essentially non-existent. Our helper has a large room with en suite bathroom on a different floor from our bedroom, but most helpers are forced to stay in a tiny space or even what is technically a bomb shelter. What was designed to be our helper’s room is what we now use as our pantry. It would be cruel to put someone in a space like that. Even on their days off helpers have very few options. They can either stay in their rooms all day or they can venture out into the crowded city. Places like the Botanic Gardens or malls are packed on Sundays since the maids have nowhere else to go on their days off. If they are lucky, they have a community of other maids that they can hang out with. But while Sundays may be a bit crowded and not the best time to go out, I’m always pleasantly surprised at the spirit and sense of community amongst these women when I see them congregating at the Botanic Gardens or on Orchard Road. I think it’s a lesson to all of us to be more appreciative of what we have, including their help.

While I’ve learned lots about the process of hiring a helper in my time as an expat, I’ve more importantly learned empathy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no saint and often cry a river over my first world problems, but it does make you thankful even for your problems. As the saying by Regina Brett goes, “If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.”

The post The Realities of Hiring a Live-In Maid in Singapore appeared first on Maya the Explorer - Expat Blog | Travel & Lifestyle.

LaToya enjoying Chapultepec Park.

How did you get your start as a digital nomad?

When I first got started in tech, I figured out pretty quickly that I wanted to work from home. “Home” is subjective; why can’t it be a flat in Lisbon, Oslo, or Mexico City? A year ago I landed a remote position with Big Cartel.  I waited until I was comfortable working from home, and then decided to add travel to what I was already doing.

Can you tell me a little bit more about your education and experience?

I dropped out of college like 3 times.  Experience wise, I’m a polyglot who specializes in Test Driven Development, and writing clean code. As far as (programming) languages, I really love Ruby, Clojure and Rust.  I’ve also worked in Java, and JavaScript.  But that’s for my day job. I’m also the founder of SheNomads.

Do you think it’s what made working as a digital nomad possible?

Working for Big Cartel definitely made being a digital nomad possible.  They already had a well organized remote culture in place. They believe in work life balance. Part of work life balance isn’t just resting up when you need it; its expanding who you are as a human being.  Travel can do that for you.  It has done that for me.

LaToya in Jerusalem.

“Part of work life balance isn’t just resting up when you need it; its expanding who you are as a human being.  Travel can do that for you.”

What has been the most positive part of your journey as a digital nomad so far?

The art scene in Mexico City woke up my inner sleeping artist.  I got to experience Brexit first hand in the UK.  I felt something spiritual while visiting both Jewish and Christian sites in Jerusalem, and then went to the best dance party I’ve ever been to right after. I learned to appreciate the part of me that is an introvert in Lisbon. I missed my flight back home to the US, and had the time of my life in Oslo. It’s hard to pick just one!

When we spoke before, we talked briefly about dating. In your experience, what does being a digital nomad mean for your social life? Family life?

I think it makes me appreciate the time I spend with my friends more than before.  None of my family members live in Chicago, so there is a lot of Skyping. Plus both of my parents are nurses, so they are on weird schedules anyway.  I wake up and its 7am in Lisbon and my mother just finished delivering a baby.   Dating is more fun, and there is less pressure.

I know in one of your podcasts you mentioned investing and retirement options for digital nomads. What has been the hardest thing to learn or decide in this department?

I want to be work optional in 10 years.  My biggest challenge is probably student loans, which would still be a challenge if I weren’t a nomad.  Its generational, not locational.

How has being a digital nomad and traveling been for you specifically as a black woman?

People abroad are more empathetic to what it means to be a black woman in the US than they are in the US.  People accept my natural hair.  People support Black Lives Matter.  I’ve been spending most of my time in bigger cities, so that may be a factor, but it’s still a more positive experience than being in a big city in the states.

Can you talk a little bit about starting SheNomads. What was your inspiration and what is your goal?

Yes! When I took the remote position at Big Cartel, I knew I wanted to intersect work and travel, but I didn’t know how.  So, I started a podcast as a way to pick the brains of women who were already doing it.  Next, I wanted to attend a digital nomad retreat, but I didn’t see any inclusive ones.  So I decided to start one, which is launching this February.  Finally, women who aren’t digital nomads but want to be started reaching out to me on advice on how to code.  And companies who are looking for inclusive candidates started contacting me for hires.  So, I started the free remote coding classes, and a job board.  I’m grounded from starting things, lol.

What would you say are the advantages and disadvantages to becoming a digital nomad?

I only see advantages.  Since interviewing Arin Pritcher the COO of Footprints, I’ve adapted this whole “whatever I’m currently doing is the best thing” mentality.  I’m currently traveling while I work, so it’s the best thing.

Any advice for someone just finishing college and looking to become a digital nomad rather than work a typical 9-5?

Do it. Like all things in life, you can talk about it, or you can do it.  It doesn’t matter if its becoming a digital nomad, or starting your own company, or practicing yoga every morning when you wake up.  Whatever you want to do, take small actionable steps to make it happen.  In the specific case of being a digital nomad, it would be finding a job at a remote company that already has a strong remote culture in place.   

“Like all things in life, you can talk about it, or you can do it.  It doesn’t matter if its becoming a digital nomad, or starting your own company, or practicing yoga every morning when you wake up.  Whatever you want to do, take small actionable steps to make it happen.”

What skills do you think would make someone more likely to land remote work?

Tech is always on the forefront of everything.  It’s bizarre.  So, working at a tech company is a great start.  Tech companies need developers, designers, bloggers, social media pros, lawyers community organizers, bloggers, folks that work in support.  There are so many options.  I think the most available positions are for those people writing code.  So learn Ruby, Python, or JavaScript.  Which SheNomads can help you do.

Last but not least, what are you currently reading? 

Women who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Women Archetype.

Looking to join the Facebook group? Click here.

Interested in more info on SheNomads? Click here. Or listening to the podcast? Click here.  Happy listening and a big thanks to Latoya for sharing with us!

The post Becoming a Digital Nomad, with LaToya Allen appeared first on Maya the Explorer - Expat Blog | Travel & Lifestyle.

My family visiting me in Singapore.

I once started a blog post on why blacks don’t travel. I finished it and reread it, then decided to drag it into the little trashcan in the lower right hand corner of my screen. It was depressing. But it also wasn’t entirely true and didn’t move the conversation forward at all. Sure, I don’t see many black people during my world travels, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t others like me out there right now traveling. Of course there are. Just like there are other black people right now living in Asia. So while I can’t tell you why not as many black people travel abroad as I would like, I can tell you what it’s been like for me living abroad, in hopes that it will inspire someone to give it a try.

The Bad

Imagine going to another country and not seeing someone who looks like you the whole time you’re there. Well that’s part of the beauty of traveling. You can be transported to a place so unlike where you are from that you enjoy the stark contrast or just being different and standing out. Now imagine that you live there and this is your experience day in and day out. Here is when it becomes difficult. It’s not just that no one looks like you, but it’s also that no one has the same experiences as you or really understands where you come from; even other expats. Sure I work with other Americans or even Californians, but until this year I didn’t even have another coworker who knew what it was like to be black. If it weren’t for one of my close friends and coworkers who is Puerto Rican and understands the struggle, I may have lost my sanity my first year in Singapore.

The truth is occasionally there is some ugliness in this experience. But while I have experienced a couple of incidents of racism on a small scale while living abroad, I’ve been far more affected by racism or ignorant comments from other American expats. Some American expats leave the U.S. only in body, not in mind. The question…“But you’re black, why don’t you sing and dance?”…came from an American, not a Filipino. I was called a ni#@er bitch while in Singapore by an American, not a Singaporean. And even when I do encounter something from an Asian, so far it hasn’t seemed to come from a bad place, just from a lack of information. For example, having someone come up to me and eagerly use a racial slur while rapping, thinking it’s cool. Or having a Filipino tell me I’m so beautiful or nice for being an African.

I realize the differences from other expats the most when discussing U.S. news. It’s interesting to sit back and listen to all of the different experiences and opinions, but so often I have these conversations and sit listening in silence because I differ so much on the topics. I also have moments where I contribute perhaps too much and am left feeling misunderstood. In the past two years or so I’ve really been on my own a bit as I listen to U.S. news and hear about yet another black death at the hands of the police. Why aren’t people talking about this more? I may be 9,000 miles away from home but it still hits me the same. Only now there is no one to talk to about it. Sometimes I feel this strong desire to be around someone I can just look at and know that they not only feel the same but have the same fears as me. But I have to hand it to Trump, he’s bringing people together. I can definitely relate to so many more American expats now in that we are all sitting around thinking, “wtf is going on?”

Visiting Puerto Princessa with my sister and friend, Marcia.

The Good

One of the biggest impacts becoming an expat has had on me has been the gift of freedom. I have a financial freedom not known at all when I was working and living in the U.S. Like many college graduates these days, particularly other minorities from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, I have a ton of student loan debt. I invested in property as well before the housing market bubble burst, so the debt was overwhelming. While living in the U.S., I worked to live. As soon as I got paid, the money was gone. Rent and transportation alone ate a huge portion of my salary and every month all of my money went towards bills. Even still I was barely paying the minimum towards my debt. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of debt and couldn’t see the shore to save my life. Working abroad has made this a thing of the past. I now am able to put so much more money towards my debt and still travel often. I feel like Atlas getting to finally put down the world. Chasing the American dream was killing me. I now feel like I’ve gotten out of the rat race and am so appreciative for this life I could only create through changing jobs and moving abroad (or winning Powerball).

I also have this amazing opportunity to meet people from all over the world. In addition to meeting and making friends with Filipinos and Singaporeans, there are also lots of Canadians, Aussies, Kiwis, Chinese, South Africans, South Americans, etc. etc. that I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know. So while it’s comforting to have someone who knows where you come from, it’s incredibly eye opening to hear from others from around the world. I wouldn’t have met my boyfriend had I not been living abroad and he has opened my eyes to a side of Canada I’d never seen, as well as shared his experiences of living in Ghana, Malaysia and New Zealand.

I took my boyfriend on a private flight over the rice terraces in Banaue, Philippines. It was piloted by an American Vietnam vet. Definitely couldn’t have afforded this in the states.

And oddly enough, living abroad has actually strengthened my bond with my family. When I was living and working in the U.S. I lived in a different state than my family because of my job opportunity. I was only able to travel back home to California twice a year. I do the same now, only I’m able to visit home for weeks at a time as well as fly my family in to see me. I never felt like they “got” my life before, but now that I’m abroad I think they are beginning to understand more of who I am and they are proud of my fearlessness (fearlessness coming from the cry baby of the bunch mind you). I’m also so much more appreciative of them. No one knows you like your siblings and really I don’t think there is another person on Earth who knows what it’s like to be the awkward black Puerto Rican kid growing up in 1990’s Korea Town, Los Angeles.  So my time with my family is precious and I treat it as such whereas maybe before I took it for granted. The same could be said for the friendships I’ve maintained since junior high or even elementary school. If I was living in the same city I might have let those friendships slip away, or taken them for granted. But these are the people I’ve grown up with and a familial love exists between us. I’m always overwhelmed with gratitude when I come to town and they go out of their way to organize a get together so I can see everyone.

Really this whole experience has been so overwhelmingly positive when I sit and think about it. But if I had listened to the opinions of others I never would have taken the leap. And while sometimes I ache for old school R&B to come on in the club or salsa that moves my soles blaring throughout my mother’s house, the majority of the time I’m fine. I love to travel and I am doing what I love. I adore this journey I’m on and I wish more people who look like me would give it a try.

The post My Black Expat Experience appeared first on Maya the Explorer - Expat Blog | Travel & Lifestyle.

Singapore is the opposite of the Philippines in many ways. It is the poster child for efficiency and cleanliness, while the Philippines, particularly Manila, can be dirty, exhaust and traffic filled and with basically no mass transit system. The Philippines is post card perfect beaches, volcanoes, waterfalls and jungle treks and Singapore is a jungle within a massive city. Both are beautiful, but I was getting the change that I needed.

The Famous Merlion

MacRitchie Reservoir

Hiking Pulau Ubin with my boyfriend.

The biggest change for me was sticker shock. I had grown accustomed to getting things so cheap in Manila and now I had to cut back. I stopped getting all the massages and pedicures and went back to life without a maid. I also lived in an area that was less desirable than my trendy neighborhood in Manila. Now I wasn’t really near anything other than work and when I would once jump in a cab without a moment’s hesitation, now I thought about it all the time. I just couldn’t go from paying the equivalent of maybe $5 to go clear across town to now paying $25 or $30 for half the distance. Even the groceries made me think twice and I had to investigate where to go for cheaper groceries (Not Cold Storage!). I thought I would take advantage of the cheap eats at the hawker stalls, but I quickly learned that it wasn’t so vegetarian friendly. Perhaps the biggest shock came in the form of taxes. In Manila my employer was paying for my local taxes, so I never even saw the bill. Now I was responsible for paying them and it wasn’t cheap. Still I had to remind myself what I was paying for; litter free streets, amazing mass transit options, public libraries, parks and bike trails. I didn’t have any of this in Manila.

As a result I really didn’t feel like I had to leave. I didn’t jet set every chance I got and instead took in Singapore on the weekends. There was so much to do and I even enjoyed doing nothing much more. My boyfriend lived in a very green area of the city and spending a weekend at his place felt like vacation; I had the pool, hiking at my doorstep and green as far as the eye could see. We’ve since moved in together and have gotten an even better living situation. Currently it is a renter’s market so we are living in a 6 bedroom, 5.5 bath home for just the two of us, our dog and with the money we are saving we hired a live in helper.

Going to a friend’s wedding.

One thing I do miss is meeting more locals and just the overall hospitality of the Philippines. In the Philippines I interacted much more with Filipinos than I do now with Singaporeans. I can’t really say that I have many Singaporean friends, whereas this was not the case in Manila. This is partially my fault. I perhaps haven’t made as much of an effort to do so. I also work with tons of other expats so I just don’t have the opportunity that I once did in Manila, where I worked with many Filipinos and became good friends with them. But Singapore definitely has a much bigger expat population. In fact, Singapore is so filled with expats that being foreign isn’t a big thing. And even though being a black expat here isn’t very common, I still don’t feel like I’m an outsider or get stared at like I do elsewhere in Asia.

My Singapore expat experience is still developing. I’ve just extended my contract for another year, so soon it will be the city I’ve lived in the longest since high school. And if you know me, that is huge. It says a lot about the quality of life in Singapore and about the opportunities I’ve been afforded here. I’m excited for this upcoming year as I continue to grow and evolve and am glad that Singapore has been a part of the process.

The post Expat Life Part II: Singapore appeared first on Maya the Explorer - Expat Blog | Travel & Lifestyle.

The jeepney is a very common form of transportation in the Philippines.

An expat is defined as someone living as an immigrant in a country other than the country of his or her citizenship. Traveling has taught me a lot, but living overseas is a lesson in life you simply cannot get anywhere else. You learn so much about yourself and are forced to challenge all previously conceived notions, especially about yourself. Before coming overseas I traveled quite a bit, but it was nothing like actually living and working long-term in a different country.

My first year living overseas I wanted to see everything. Not a 3-day weekend went by where I wasn’t on a plane or in a taxi going to see a place in the Philippines I hadn’t seen yet. And when just hanging around Manila there was always something new to try. In retrospect I spent a lot of money, but hey, it was the first time I actually could afford it. I had a maid, a seamstress to make clothes for me, a manicure and pedicure every week, massages, laser hair removal, 3-D eyebrow tattooing. I tried it all. Everything was so cheap (but quietly added up). Still, I was making so much money in comparison to what I made before and the best part was that I paid no rent and zero taxes. On top of that I was now in a country where I was well above the poverty line and was surrounded by very wealthy families. One of my first weekends in the country I was invited to go to the beach. It turns out it was a private island owned by the family I was accompanying and we took their private yacht to get there. I had to hide the shock on my face all day. It wasn’t until I got home that I could finally say to myself “Holy $h!t.”

Trying something new.

I’m on a boat.

I had to be very careful when shopping for lotion.

Slums not too far from my apartment.

On the opposite end I couldn’t go across town without having a baby or blind man thrust into my view, literally. There was always someone parading the disabled, pleading for money. Being from L.A. I was used to seeing homelessness and poverty, but not on this level. From my high-rise apartment building I could see the slums just blocks away, and there wasn’t a part of the city where the poverty was really out of sight. I volunteered frequently and my cause of choice was a small orphanage not far from my apartment. Every time I visited I was always lifted by the smiles of these children, but saddened that some never got adopted or even left the walls of the house they were in. The fact that they would run to complete strangers just let me know how starving they were for affection. I came to know many of their names and saw them grow and

The orphanage where I volunteered.

age out of the room they were in and on to the next.

Inevitably I would have days where I would breakdown and when I missed the comfort of home. These moments came at the strangest times, for example when shopping or trying to catch a cab. Having no cabs stop to pick you up or only agree to take you if you paid an exorbitant rate was so frustrating. Or while shopping I would have someone helping me who just refused to tell me no. I’d ask for something and rather than tell me they didn’t have it, they’d have me wait for what seemed like hours only to later say “Sorry, mam.” Or heaven forbid trying to get a technical issue fixed. The concept of saving face annoyed me to no end. Why couldn’t I just get a straight answer?!? The sheer inefficiency of the society I was living in would get to me and I just couldn’t take anymore.

Easter in the Philippines. Can you say dedication?

Those moments of frustration came and went, and the newness of it all faded rather quickly. After all, I wasn’t on vacation. I lived there. I learned my way around, I learned a (very) little Tagalog, I settled into a routine and a budget. And that’s when I really started to notice where I was. I developed friendships, stopped going to tourist traps and started to pick up on some of the nuances of a society that you only get from living there. That is really where all my fond memories are. I fell in love with my job and with the people who had come to be my family away from home. Somewhere along the way I learned to focus more on quality rather than quantity. I wasn’t trying to do everything and instead did what mattered or made me happy.

What I thought would be maybe a two-year contract before settling back home in the United States has turned into 6 years and counting. Stay tuned for Part II on life in Singapore.

Taal Volcano. A short trip from Manila.

Puerto Galera. One of my frequent, easy getaways from Manila.

The post Expat Life Part I: The Philippines appeared first on Maya the Explorer - Expat Blog | Travel & Lifestyle.